Arguably, what matters most about a focus group moderator is his or her ability to get those around the table to openly share their ideas and opinions.

The moderator must probe effectively, masterfully manage the group's dynamics, and keep potentially domineering personalities from taking over. Those, too, are important skills.

But most fundamentally, the moderator's role is to subtly ensure - without interjecting themselves into the process unnecessarily - that participants are able to fully and candidly express and explore their perspectives and priorities.

Moderator Jocelyn Goldberg-Schaible, President of the Rochester Research Group, has been moderating focus groups for nearly 25 years.